A
therapeutic drug monitoring system of 5-FU and its metabolites used by 19F
MRI is developed. It was demonstrated that 19F MRI can detect tissue
distribution of 5-FU and fluoro-beta-alanine (FBAL) in tumor-bearing rats. A
liquid chromatography / tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) acquired the 5-FU
and FBAL concentrations. The relationship between the signal intensity by 19F
MRI and concentration by LC/MS/MS in a tumor and liver was evaluated.
Clearly, well relationship coefficients were obtained (5-FU: R2>0.82,
FBAL: R2>0.96).